Water Watcher Pledge 2025 Sweepstakes
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED
1. Timing: The Water Watcher Pledge Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) begins on June 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM Eastern Time and ends on August 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (the “Promotion Period”). The computer of the YMCA of the USA, 101 N. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 (“Sponsor”) is the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.
2. Eligibility: The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States including the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. The Sweepstakes is open to YMCA members and non-members. Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising/promotion agencies, prize suppliers and any and all other companies associated with the development, production or implementation of this Sweepstakes, and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”) and persons in the immediate family of or persons living in the same household as any person in any of the preceding categories are not eligible to participate or win a prize. Subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations.
3. Acceptance of Rules: Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
4. How to Enter: To participate you must have internet access and during the Promotion Period, visit Sponsor’s website https://www.ymca.org/phones-down-eyes-up#take-the-pledge and complete the Water Watcher Pledge.
LIMIT:
- multiple members of a single household may enter but only one prize package will be awarded per household during the Promotion Period
- winning Participants and members of their household are ineligible to be chosen in all subsequent drawings.
5. Prizes: TWO (2) SWAG BAGS: Each Swag Bag shall consist of one (1) drawsting backpack, one (1) popper fidget ball, one (1) sunglasses, one (1) lunchbox/cooler, one (1) tote bag, one (1) trucker baseball hat, one (1) beach mat, one (1) Large t-shirt one (1) flying disc, and one (1) water bottle. The prizes shown in promotional materials are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the actual prizes awarded. Prizes may be subject to additional restrictions. Each Swag Bag winner is solely responsible for all other expenses not specifically set forth herein, including but not limited to service charges, shipping and handling, taxes, insurance, other incidentals and items of a personal nature. Prizes consist of only the items specifically listed as part of the prize. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each Swag Bag: $65.00 and the total ARV of all prizes: $130.00. Actual value may vary. Sponsor is not responsible for and winner will not receive any difference between the actual value and ARV of a prize. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. Prize details not specified herein shall be determined solely by Sponsor. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. Prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable, and no substitutions will be made except as provided herein, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for one of comparable or greater value. In the event that an insufficient number of eligible entries are received to award all available prizes, Sponsor is not obligated to award remaining prizes and no additional random drawings will take place. In the event of prize unavailability, if the Sweepstakes becomes impossible or commercially unreasonable to administrate, or any other reason in Sponsor’s sole discretion, Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or modify (in whole or in part) the Sweepstakes. Winner(s) are responsible for all applicable local, state and/or federal taxes and fees associated with prize award, receipt and/or use. Failure to use prize does not relieve winner of his/her tax obligations associated with acceptance of a prize. Sweepstakes winnings will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and winner can expect to receive a 1099 tax form for prizes which total more than $500.00 for the year. Limit one (1) prize per entrant.
6. Random Drawings: Sponsor is an independent judging organization whose decisions as to the administration and operation of the Sweepstakes and the selection of the potential winners are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Sponsor will select the potential Sweepstakes winners in two (2) random drawings:
one (1) on July 16, 2025 for all eligible entries received before July 15th 2025, 11:59 PM Pacific Time; one (1) on August 16, 2025 for all eligible entries received before August 15, 2025, 11:59 PM Pacific Time. The potential winner(s) will be notified through the email provided on their Pledge entry on or about the first business day following the random drawing in which they were selected. Each potential winner will be required to reply with all information requested by the Sponsor within two (2) calendar days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent in order to claim his/her prize. Sponsor shall have no liability for any potential prize winning notification (or transmitted prize) that is lost, intercepted or not received by any potential winner for any reason or that is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable or if potential winner fails to reply (when required) with all requested information within the required time period and any such case will result in disqualification without further notice and potential winner’s forfeit of prize. If any potential prize winner is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines a prize for any reason prior to award, such potential prize winner will be disqualified and Sponsor, in its sole discretion and time-permitting, may select an alternate prize winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries in that respective drawing.
7. Use of Data/Entrant's Personal Information: Sponsor will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at http://www.ymca.net/privacy-policy/index.html (“Privacy Policy”). By entering this Sweepstakes, each entrant confirms that he/she has read, agrees to and accepts Sponsor’s Privacy Policy and Sponsor’s collection and usage of his/her personal information.
8. Publicity and Assignment of Rights: Except where prohibited, participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes each winner’s consent to Sponsor’s and its agents’ use of each winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, quotes, statements, opinions, biographical information and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media now known or hereinafter invented, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. By submitting an Entry in this Sweepstakes, entrant grants Sponsor and all other such persons as Sponsor may designate, the absolute, irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual right and permission to use, reproduce, publish, store, post, display, distribute, modify, prepare derivative works of and/or otherwise use the Entry, in any manner, form, format or media now or hereinafter created, including on the Internet, and for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising of Sponsor, the Sweepstakes, and Sponsor’s products, all without further notice, consent or payment. Sweepstakes winners are required to submit photography or video to Sponsor showing themselves with prizes within seven (7) day of receiving prizes.
9. Release: In exchange for the right to participate in the Sweepstakes, the winner(s) agree to release and hold harmless the Promotion Entities from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in or in connection with the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. Promotion Entities are not responsible for technical, hardware, network connections or incomplete or delayed computer transmissions, regardless of cause. All entrants understand and agree that all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California (“Section 1542”) and any similar law of any state, territory, or country that may be applicable with respect to the foregoing release are hereby expressly and forever waived. All participating entrants acknowledge that Section 1542 provides that: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” The releases hereunder are intended to apply to all claims not known or suspected to exist with the intent of waiving the effect of laws requiring the intent to release future unknown claims.
10. General Conditions: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, any other promotion or applicable law, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
11. Limitations of Liability: The Promotion Entities are not responsible for: (i) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (ii) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software whether originating with entrant, Sponsor, or any third party; (iii) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (iv) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; (v) late, lost, undeliverable, misdirected, illegible, damaged, incomplete, incorrect, stolen, or postage due entries/mail; or (vi) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Sweepstakes, unless it is not possible to award another entry due to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. In the event of a discontinuance of the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, for any reason, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance, and in no event will more than the stated number of prizes be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.
12. Choice of Law and Disputes: THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. As a condition of participating in this Sweepstakes and/or accepting an awarded prize, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action that cannot be resolved between the parties arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively by the appropriate federal or state court of the State of Illinois, having jurisdiction and each participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives any objection it might have based upon improper venue or inconvenient forum. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim indirect, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, other than entrant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., evidenced costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes), and entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Illinois.
13. Severability: The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
14. Winner List: For the names of the prize winners of prizes with values greater than $25.00, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by September 1, 2025 to: YMCA of the USA attn: Digital Marketing for Midterm 2018 Collegiate Voter Contest, 101 N Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I understand that this was included in the rules for the sweepstakes it was originally created for because winners were drawn from those three sources, but do we also need to include it because we’ll be promoting on those sites?
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